Empower Women Pod - The Encore

Thank you to Nina Frusztajer, MD, MS., for kicking off our 2023 Empower Women series with her talk, Overcoming Obstacles to Healthy Eating. Even if we know what to eat, how do we put the principles into practice and address what gets in the way? Nutrition information can be confusing and contradictory. Dr. Frusztajer discussed what healthy eating looks like and she addressed common obstacles like no time for meal prep, lack of recipes for simple and nutritious meals, over-reliance on takeout, a lifestyle that revolves around food-centric events, lack of self-care, and eating-driven by emotions and stress. Nina Frusztajer, MD, MS, is a physician with a master’s degree in nutrition, an author, a certified life coach, and a yoga instructor. She has worked in the field of nutrition for 30 years, helping people lose weight and use food as medicine to feel and look their best, including clients with medical issues. Her programs focus on food and brain chemistry, nutrition and mental health, the gut biome, balanci

Many thanks to Pamela Katz Ressler for leading our final Empower Women event of 2022, Roadmap to Recalibration.  These last few years have been extremely tough. Our lives changed overnight, and we had to adapt our entire way of living. The stress and uncertainty of the pandemic have left many of us unsure of what’s next. So, how do we get back on track? Pam discussed strategies for recalibration, grit versus resiliency ( why we need both) and the lessons we’ve learned from the pandemic. More importantly, she gave us actionable steps to help us move forward. Pamela Katz Ressler, RN, MS, HNB-BC is the founder of Stress Resources, a firm specializing in building and sustaining resiliency in individuals and organizations through tools of connection, communication and compassion. She is also an adjunct faculty member at the Tufts School of Medicine, the author of the newly published book Recalibrations, and host of the podcast, Raising Resilience. Pam has held leadership roles in many organizations, including serv

We’d like to thank Kerry Luria of Lexington Wealth Management for leading our November 8th event, Managing Your Finances. Kerry discussed topics around understanding and managing your finances. She talked about how our needs are relevant to where we are in life, and our concerns around budgeting, saving, investing, planning for retirement, education funding, and so much more. Kerry joined Lexington Wealth Management in 2014 as a Managing Director – Senior Wealth Advisor. She embraces a holistic approach to working with clients and is a careful, empathetic advisor. Kerry pursued the Registered Life Planning designation to enhance her ability to help clients recognize what is most meaningful in their lives so that their life and money can go on the same journey. In her role as Managing Director, Kerry ensures that Lexington’s team, vision and initiatives align with the company’s core values.   General Disclaimer: Lexington Wealth Management is a group of investment professionals registered with HighTower Securi

We want to thank Dori Mintzer for leading our October event, Living Your Best Life. Dori discussed how to live your best life as you enter retirement and beyond and Ways to build well-being into our lives. She also touched on the importance of “mindset” as we age and live our lives, exploring your sense of self and identity and developing and/or enhancing your own voice and vision and being an advocate for yourself. Dr. Dorian (aka Dori) Mintzer, M.S.W., Ph.D., BCC, is an author, speaker, therapist, retirement transition, relationship, and executive coach, as well as a wife and mother. She weaves adult development, holistic life planning and positive psychology into programs that tap and shape clients’ energies into roadmaps for wiser, more enhanced living. She has a deep belief in the capacity of people to navigate their changing roles as they access awareness of their inner life and spirituality. She hosts the popular monthly Revolutionize your Retirement Interview with Expert’s Series and a weekly Revoluti

We want to thank Lauren Loehning for leading our September 13th event, Mindfulness & Our Relationship with Money. Lauren talked about examining our relationship with money so we can consciously align our financial actions with our goals and values. She also discussed how our thoughts, beliefs, behaviors, and emotions about money impact our financial actions and how to break through bad money habits and create new habits that support our financial goals. Lauren K. Loehning CFP, CIMA, AIF, Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher, MMTCP Lauren is a Partner at Retirement Impact and Principal of RISE Excel Corporate Wellness. Lauren teaches mindfulness meditation and is passionate about bringing the foundational concepts of mindfulness to individuals and corporations. Mindfulness allows us to see life clearly without judgment. When mindfulness principles are applied to the way we run our businesses, lead teams, or manage our Money it can have powerful life-changing effects that benefit not only our personal w

We want to thank Erica Berman,for leading our August 9th Empower Women Event, From Luxury Rentals in Paris to a Non-Profit Farm Feeding the Hungry in Maine. Erica discussed living in Paris for 20 years, owning and selling a successful luxury vacation rental business, to founding Veggies to Table, a 501c3 non-profit grow-to-donate farm to feed the hungry. From moving to Maine from Paris, changing her direction at the age of 49, and creating a new life more meaningful to her soul, Erica’s story is inspiring for those looking to make a big life change. It’s never too late!  After 20 years in Paris and Italy, Erica swapped city living for an existence steeped in nature and sustainable values when she moved to Maine with her French husband Alain Ollier, Veggies to Table co-founder. The launch of Veggies to Table in 2019, stemmed from a deep-rooted desire to make a difference and give back to their community by helping those in need, while creating joy along the way; Veggies to Table also donates flowers—food for t

We want to thank Kirsten Meder for leading our July 12th Empower Women Event, Understanding ESG Investing. Kirsten discussed where we’ve come from in terms of ESG and impact investing, where we are now, and opportunities for the future.  She also talked about how the integration of values and ESG data has provided a great entry point for many women to become more involved with their investments.  “In so many of my client meetings women not only have a seat at the table but are actively engaged if not leading the discussion around how they want to invest.” Kirsten Meder, CAIA, CMT, is an ESG/SRI Investment Strategist at Aperio. In this role, Ms. Meder works with clients to align their equity portfolios with their values.  She works closely with the ESG and Portfolio Management teams in the evaluation of ESG data sets and the creation of new strategies and works with Aperio’s Research Team on projects related to ESG issues.  Prior to joining Aperio, Ms. Meder was a Portfolio Manager at Lattice Strategies (acqui

We’d like to give a big thank you to Kate Granigan who hosted our June 14th Empower Women event, The Journey of Caregiving. With 10,000 Baby Boomers turning 65 every day, individuals living longer and families with multiple aging loved ones, the role of caregiver is something that more and more of us can identify with. Whether you are currently caring for a loved one or anticipate this need down the road, this discussion is for you!  Kate Granigan, CEO of LifeCare Advocates and a consultant and advocate in the field of aging, shared insights on caregiving from her experiences working with older adults and their families. Kate Granigan is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and has worked as a clinician in the field of aging for over 25 years. She founded her own Life Care Management company in 1999, which later became part of a non-profit organization in 2009. She held the position of Vice President of Care Management until she assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of LifeCare Advocates in 201

We are so thankful to Rochelle Seltzer for leading our May 10th Empower Women series, Live Big Without Sacrifice. In the discussion, Rochelle talked about what it means to live big and how you can bring all of your greatness into the world and live a truly fulfilling life. She discussed ways you can live big without stress, as you honor your desires and purpose. During this event, Rochelle also talked about the importance of self-care, focus, and a calm mind to nurture your well-being. Rochelle Seltzer is a Creative Core Coach and the author of the highly acclaimed book, Live Big: A Manifesto for a Creative Life. Her mission is to unleash the untapped creative capacity inside people everywhere, so they bring all of their greatness into the world. She supports accomplished women who are ready to step into their power and move past what keeps them blocked, stuck and small — to create bold visions for their lives and careers, and truly live big We hope you enjoy this podcast episode! General Disclaimer: Lexingto

We’d like to thank Ellen Glickman-Simon for hosting our April 12th Empower Women Event, Estate Planning for Serenity and Empowerment. An increased sense of serenity and empowerment are two of the main reasons to plan for your legal health. Many of us, especially parents of young children, do not realize how comforting it can be to have a plan in place in case of illness or death. Instead, we feel apprehensive about the choices involved in the estate planning process: who to name as beneficiaries, fiduciaries (e.g., health care agents), or guardians. While it takes courage to do this work and discipline to make the time to do it, the rewards are great. Feelings of relief, pride, empowerment, and solace often follow a completed estate plan. Ellen offered a manageable, step-by-step approach to creating your Will, Health Care Proxy, Durable Power of Attorney, Trust (for certain situations) and related estate planning documents. Ellen Glickman-Simon, J.D., L.L.M. Ellen graduated from Tufts University in 1982, rece

We want to thank Pamela Vardaro back for leading our March 8th Empower Women Event, What Parents and Kids Should be Thinking About for College Admissions. Pamela discussed the steps she takes when working with students. She also talked about the factors affecting the college and financial aid process. Pamela is an Independent College Consultant advising high school students in every phase of the college application process. She previously served as the Assistant Director of College Advising at a private, competitive, independent college preparatory school with a 100% matriculation rate. She places dozens of students every year at top-tier colleges. We hope you enjoy this podcast episode General Disclaimer: Lexington Wealth Management is a group of investment professionals registered with HighTower Securities, LLC, member FINRA and SIPC, and with HighTower Advisors, LLC, a registered investment advisor with the SEC. Securities are offered through HighTower Securities, LLC; advisory services are offered thr

We would like to thank Karen Mariscal for hosting our February 8th Empower Women Event, How to Keep Money Issues From Diminishing the Joy of Raising Special Needs Children.  Although the news of a diagnosis can be devastating, years later some parents look back and realize that their lives have been enriched beyond belief. Karen Mariscal, Esq., led a presentation on parenting or grandparenting a special needs child, and the overwhelm and joy it can bring. She discussed some of the teachings of the book, “Far From the Tree: Parenting Children and the Search for Identity,” by Andrew Solomon, and how parenting someone who is very different from oneself can result in transformative personal growth. The second part of Karen’s presentation focused on how parents can afford children who are unable to make a living on their own, through government benefits.  Karen Mariscal is the mother of a profoundly autistic adult son, and a special needs estate planner in Wellesley, Massachusetts. She is a passionate advocate fo

Thank you for joining us for our first Empower Women event of 2022, Why We Need Movement, hosted by Teresa Quinn.  Teresa talked about the importance of movement and how and why it contributes to a healthy mind and body. Teresa Quinn has a passion for working with people to improve their health and has taught different fitness modalities for more than 35 years. She is a 500 hr RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher) and has been teaching yoga for over 10-years. Teresa is honored to share her knowledge with the women in this empowering series. We hope you enjoy this podcast episode.   General Disclaimer: Lexington Wealth Management is a group of investment professionals registered with HighTower Securities, LLC, member FINRA and SIPC, and with HighTower Advisors, LLC, a registered investment advisor with the SEC. Securities are offered through HighTower Securities, LLC; advisory services are offered through HighTower Advisors, LLC. This is not an offer to buy or sell securities. No investment process is free of ris

We want to thank Elizabeth O’Neil for leading our December 14th Empower Women event, Planning for Everything You Own and Everyone You Love.  Liz reviewed some core estate planning basics and provided a broad overview of how trust planning works to avoid death taxes. She also discussed how the proposed legislation by the Biden administration may impact that planning. Liz O’Neil is currently an Associate Attorney at Constant Law Group, P.C. Liz graduated cum laude from New England Law | Boston (2020). She received the Boston Service Award at graduation as voted on by the faculty at New England Law. While in law school, Liz interned at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office Trial Division and was an Honors Judicial Intern with the Suffolk County Juvenile Court.  She also worked at a Legal Aid clinic and for a domestic relations attorney. She is a member of the Women’s, Massachusetts, Boston, and the American Bar Associations. In addition to her Juris Doctorate, Liz has a Master’s Degree in Education from H

Thank you to Maggi Alexander for leading our November 9th Empower Women Event, Establishing Year End Philanthropic Goals.  Many donors struggle with being “an inch deep and a mile wide” in their giving and aspire to develop a coherent, strategic plan and a clear sense of the legacy they wish to leave to their communities and families.  However, they may not know how or feel rushed at the end of the year to make quick decisions about donations.  This workshop aimed to help participants better define their goals for philanthropy, uncover their deepest interests and passions, and begin the process of zeroing in on a focus and structure for their giving that provides both meaning and impact.  Participants left the program with renewed sense of purpose and practical tools for getting from here to there. Maggi Alexander is a Partner at TPI and directs TPI’s Center for Global Philanthropy. In this role, she supports individuals and families, foundations, and corporations in aligning their philanthropy with their va

We want to thank everyone who attended our October Empower Women event, Teaching Our Teens to Swim in Turbulent Waters: so we Don’t Have to be Their Life Preserver, with Pamela Willsey. The pandemic has been extremely difficult for everyone, but we often forget about the impact it has had on our teens. Dealing with such stressful conditions during some of the most important years of your life can leave a lasting impression. Pamela discussed the importance of connecting with your teens and how you can teach them the tools to help guide them through turbulent waters and learn to be confident and independent. Pamela Willsey is the founder of Willsey Connections (WC). She practices as a therapist and life coach for teenaged girls as they become young adult women. Her approach centers around the deeply held belief that success in life requires us to understand ourselves and others. She emphasizes the need to learn the skills necessary to manage our feelings and relationships. WC helps teenage girls develop the to

As we close out our 2019 Empower Women Series, we hosted, Year End Tax Planning, with by Mellinda Abbott, CPA. Mellinda discussed how to get organized for year end, offering tips and advice on how to make your tax preparation as easy as possible. Mellinda Abbott is the Owner of Abbott & Company with offices in Lexington and Tewksbury. Mellinda earned her bachelor’s degree in Accounting and her MBA from Bentley University. She is a member of the Massachusetts Society of CPAs and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She serves on multiple non-profit Boards focusing on health, education, and economic development. To RSVP or see our future EWS events please visit our website at this link: Empower Women Events All EWS events are free to all the women and occur every second Tuesday of every month at noon in our offices unless specified. Join us and spread the word. Let's continue empowering women.  Tax Disclaimer: HighTower Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. This material was

We’d like to thank you for attending our September 14th Empower Women event, Navigating Divorce- How your Financial Advisor Can Help, hosted by Betsy Lavoie, CFA and Susie Panduku, CPA, CFP® of Lexington Wealth Management. Divorce can be both emotionally and financially draining.  Working with a financial advisor can help one stay on track, make the process of pulling together financial information not onerous, and help one in understanding what a particular settlement means for a unique situation.  Betsy and Susie discussed the importance of having a financial advisor to turn to for support as you or someone you care about prepares for a significant life change. Elizabeth Lavoie, CFA, has been working closely with wealthy individuals and families for more than 16 years. Prior to joining Lexington Wealth Management, she spent more than nine years as an Investment Officer at PNC, where she managed a portfolio of investment assets and worked with a team of advisors to build customized wealth management solutio

We want to thank you for joining us for our August Empower Women series, The Ins and Outs of Medicare, hosted by Elaine Miller. Elaine talked about Medicare and supplemental health insurance options, what’s covered by Medicare and what’s not, and costs associated with health care covered in retirement.  Elaine Miller is Minuteman Senior Services’ Regional SHINE Program Director, where she serves as an internal Medicare/health insurance resource to staff and leads a core of 45 state-certified SHINE counselors.  The MSS SHINE program serves Medicare beneficiaries of all ages in eighteen communities in Middlesex County.  Prior to joining MSS in 2019, Elaine worked at North Shore Elder Services as the Area Agency on Aging Planner and is a state-trained Nursing Home Ombudsman.  Elaine’s career spans 25 years in nonprofit management including serving as national director of legislative affairs for a health-based charitable organization.   Elaine’s work with elders began at Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley,

Thank you for attending our July Empower Women event, Time, Money & Joy, hosted by Kerry Luria of Lexington Wealth Management. Living in a world obsessed with consumerism, we are constantly bombarded with “more is better” – but how much do we really need? Kerry discussed a step-by-step process to better navigate day-to-day decisions as well as major crossroads – career, retirement, housing, gifting, etc. She also talked about how to maximize your time and resources to make you happier by focusing attention on discovering what’s truly important to each of us. Kerry Luria is the Managing Director of Advisor Services, Kerry uses her 21 years of experience to guide, mentor and support the team of Lexington wealth advisors. In her role, she helps ensure that Lexington’s clients experience a high-touch, personal connection with their advisory team. She oversees all aspects of the practice’s wealth management offerings to provide high-quality, memorable service and relevant deliverables to help secure confidenc